BRIDGETON -- City council named Albert Kelly its president during the governing body's annual reorganization meeting, held this afternoon at the city's new Fayette Street justice building.

Council also voted to move back its bimonthly work sessions' start time to 5 p.m. Its public meetings will now begin "immediately following" the work sessions, likely at around 6:30 p.m., Kelly said.

Councilwoman Gladys Lugardo nominated Kelly for the presidency. Her motion was seconded by Councilman Dennis Thompson.

Kelly was approved as president by a 5-0 vote.

Kelly thanked his colleagues for their faith in him and credited Thompson for doing "a magnificent job" as president.

Thompson had served as council president since March, when then-President Celeste Riley resigned from council in order to take state Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher's seat on the state Assembly.

Mayor Jim Begley and council members entered the fourth and final year of their current terms today.

Kelly became the fifth council president since July 2006, following Councilman Nick Salvatore (fiscal year 2007), Councilman Bill Spence (2008), Riley and Thompson.

Kelly hopes to bolster volunteerism in the city during his year as council president. He proposed a "Volunteer Day," citing an article he recently read in The Star-Ledger chronicling a North Jersey town's efforts to draw out more volunteers by teaching them about the history and needs of the town.

"Councilwoman Riley had B-3 (Building a Better Bridgeton), in which she organized volunteers," he said. "I want to continue that. ... I want to recognize the people who want to come forward and make the city a better place."

Kelly, the president and CEO of Bridgeton-based social service agency Tri-County Community Action Partnership, also indicated he will strive to keep council united.

"I don't want to get bogged down by personalities," he said. "We need to continue to set the agenda and let the employees execute that agenda."

Council started its work sessions at 4:30 p.m. during fiscal year 2009, on Riley's recommendation. It will begin those meetings at 5 p.m. this year.

Deb Lietzke, a regular at council meetings, questioned the lack of a defined start time for council's public meetings, citing the "immediately following the work session" line in the resolution.

Resolutions in prior years specified council's public meetings would begin at 6:30 p.m.

Salvatore agreed with Lietzke.

"She's absolutely correct. We certainly need to have a time here (in the resolution) so all of the public can attend our public meetings," he said.

Council will re-visit the public meetings' start time next month, Kelly said following the meeting.

Council will continue to meet the first and third Tuesday of each month.

When public holidays fall on the first or third Tuesday of a month, council will meet Wednesday that week.